Industrial action and the Conservatives are not natural bedfellows, notwithstanding (pictured drinking water) education secretary Michael Gove's appearance on a picket line in a former life as a journalist.
What his current colleagues think of Militant Mike's picketing past can only be the subject of conjecture (youthful impetuosity, perhaps?), but at least he stuck it out longer than the 15 minutes to which Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has suggested the public sector unions limit themselves on 30 November.
In a gesture that could be described as avuncular - or patronising - Maude pointed out that, by nipping out for only a quarter of an hour, staff could avoid being docked pay.
It sounded like he was recommending a coffee break, a sip-in perhaps.
I may be making assumptions but I cannot imagine Maude's boss, Dave Cameron, being too impressed with the prospect of our nation's public servants heading for the canteen or a coffee shop to sit down with a hot drink when they could be behind their desks.
Why? Well, on Friday, the prime minister made known his disapproval of protests that were not done "on two feet".
I will not nitpick this particular use of words, but already this year the students have tried the two-feet option, as have thousands of trade unionists, something, by a process of elimination, Cameron ought to support.
We all know he didn't but the question has to be asked: which protests DOES he support?
Picture: Rex Features
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